Changes in Campus Residential Life: Designing for a New Student Generation

Moving into a dormitory is one of a student’s first experiences at college. How does student wellness impact the design of campus housing today and how are institutions using housing to attract applicants? Join the AIANY Architecture for Education Committee for a lively discussion with Scott Wright, Vice President for Campus Services, Columbia University; Delmy M. Lendof, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Affairs, Pratt Institute; and Kate Baier, Executive Director, Residential Life and Housing Services, New York University, about how higher education residential facilities are changing and the innovative design solutions architects are offering to meet evolving student needs and help universities and colleges stay competitive.

Speakers:
Kate Baier, Executive Director, Residential Life and Housing Services, New York University
Dr. Delmy M. Lendof, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Affairs, Pratt Institute
Scott Wright, Vice President for Campus Services, Columbia University

About the Speakers:
Kate Baier is responsible for the overall administration and operation of NYU’s 22 residence halls and two graduate living communities, which are home to approximately 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students during the academic year and summer session. Baier discusses how the Office of Residential Life and Student Housing serve NYU students as well as the services that are provided, paying close attention to incoming first-year students who might be away from home for the first time.

Delmy M. Lendof is a Student Affairs professional with over 25 years of experience working in higher education and serving students at public and private universities. As Pratt’s Vice President for Student Affairs, she is responsible for managing a vibrant student life program and providing dynamic and purposeful leadership steeped in a commitment to art, culture, social justice, and shared governance. At Pratt, she provides leadership and direction in the areas of Career and Professional Development; Counseling Services; Health Services; Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation; Interfaith Campus Ministry Council; International Student Affairs; Learning/Access Center; Parent and Family Programs; Residential Life and Housing; Resilience, Wellness and Well-Being; Student Advocacy and Care Coordination; Student Conduct; Title IX, Dining Services; and Student Involvement and Orientation.

Scott Wright is the Vice President for Campus Services at Columbia University, which includes many of the areas students experience outside of the classroom during their time at Columbia: dining, undergraduate housing, event management, Lerner Hall, transportation, mail, print, and environmental stewardship. A strong advocate for student interests, he enjoys the challenges of serving Columbia’s diverse student community in the unique setting of New York City. Wright has been at Columbia since 1999. Prior to working at Columbia, he spent 15 years with ARAMARK, supervising food service and facility management for university clients in the western 11 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Wright is a native of Canada and grew up in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Hobart College.

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